Sending device for pneumatic tubes.



- PATBNTBD DEC. 8 190a.

B. c. BATGHBLLER. I SENDINGVDBVIGB FOR PNEUMATIO.TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 11, 1900.

4 sums-sun's! 1.

I0 KODEL.

No.746,261" PATENTED DEG.8,1903.

" B. c. BATGHELLER.

SENDING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED, 0053. 11. 1900. I

no MODEL. 4 sums-mum;

2 Id I a I G I mm "ma uonms PEYERS co, morauwofmsmrmmn, n. c.

PATENTED DEC. 8, 1903.

B. O. B-ATGHELLER. SENDING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC TUBES.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 11; 1900.

4 SHEETS-SHEET .3.

ROHODEL.

aw @J 1 IA/VE'IVTOR:

PATEIIITED DEC. 8,-1903.

. Y B. C. BATGHELLER. SENDING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC TUBES;

APPLIOATION FILED 00'1.11. 1900.

I 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STAT S Patented December 8, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SENDING DEVICE FoR PNEUMATIC. TUBES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 746,266, dated Deceinb'erS, 1903.

Application filed Octoberll, 1'90ol seminasassz. (hi model.)

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, BIRNEY O. BATCHELLER, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improyements in Sending Devices for Pneumatic Tubes, of which the following is a true and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.-

My invention relates to pneumatic-tube systems, and particularly to mechanism whereby a carrier is inserted in the tube for transmission.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient sending device and particularly one in which provision is made against the simultaneous opening of the two gates which form a part of the apparatus and in which also provision is made against the too rapid sending of successive carriers.

My sender is one having a tube-section into which the carrier isinserted and which tube section is provided with an end gate and an inner gate, my invention in its broader form consisting in the provision of special means for opening the inner gate, which.is set in motion by the closing of the end gate, and in the further provision of special means for successively closing the inner gate and opening the end gate, arranged in such a manner as to be set in operation by the exit of a carrier from the tube-section.

4 Another important feature of my invention consists in means whereby compressed air is admit-ted to the tube-section after the end gate is closed and before the inner gate is open.

further and Very important feature of my invention consists in the provisionof a lock arranged to prevent the opening of the inner gate, which look operates after each closing movement'of said gate and for a de termined time regulated by the action of a time-escapement device, preferably pneumatic in character, which time-escapement device is set in operation by the operation of the system incident to despatching a carrier.

and in -which Figure l is a plan View of my sending apparatus; Fig. 2, a vertical section taken as on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a plan view showing the shaft 0 and the gate and locking-segment attached thereto. Fig. 4 is a vertical central section through the pneumatic cylinder and the valve-chest of the apparatus; Fig. 5, a fragmentary View on the same section as Fig. 4;, showing in addition mechanism for admitting and exhausting air from the cylinder F. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of the pneumatic time-escapement device and parts immediately associated therewith. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the latching device acted on by the pneumatic time escapement. I Fig. 8 is a plan view of the locking-segment and parts operating in connection therewith; Fig. ,9, -a. cross-section on the line ,9 9 of Fig.2, shown on an enlarged scaleyand Fig. 10 is an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5. A

A indicates a tube-section open at its outer end and connected at its inner end with the perforated section A of the transmission-tube A a indicating the openings in the section A through which air enters it from the pipe A, which connects in turn with a source of air under pressure. (Not shown.) As shown, the tube-section A has at its upper end a mouthpiece A through which the carriers are inserted,between which and the end proper of the tube, is a recess A for a swinging gate, (indicated at B,)the mouthpiece A having. an extension (indicated at a Fig. 1) under which the gate swings when moved to open the tubesection. Another slot (indicated at A is formed between the lower end of the tubesection A and the section A? for'the sliding reciprocating gate, (indicated'at U.)

A indicates an opening into the section A, by whichit is connected'through a conduit "R with a port in the cylinder R, as will be with a vertical shaft 0, the connection being made, as indicated in Fig. 3, by a projecting key, (indicated at 13 but the mode of connection with the shaft is immaterial.

C indicates a handle-lever attached to the end of the shaft 0, and O a spring connected with the shaft and acting on it in a direction tending to open the end gate B. Also secured to the shaft 0 is the locking-segment D, which is conveniently made, as shown, with a downwardly projecting segmental flange D, a locking-face, as indicated at D and a locking projection, as indicated at D E is a valve-chamber having in it the cylindrical valve-seat chamber, (indicated at E,) in which are formed two ports E and E connecting through passages e and c with the ports 0' and 7', leading to the front and rear ends of the pneumatic cylinder R.

E indicates the admission-port through which air under pressure enters the cylindrical valve-chamber, and indicates the exhaust-port.

E is a port opening into the port E and connecting through a pipe 6 with the pneumatic time escapement to be described.

F is a small cylinder secured at the end of the valve-chamber E and having a pipe F leading to its inner end and a pipe F leading to an intermediate point near the outer end, which is uncovered by the piston Gin its outer movement.

F indicates a connection between the pipes F and F having in it a valve (not shown) which permits the air to flow from the pipe F to the pipe F, but does not permit flow in the opposite direction.

G indicates a valve-spindle forming also the piston-rod of the piston G and to which are attached the piston-valves G and G which operate in connection with the ports E and E a prolongation of this rod or spindle (indi ated at 1*) forming an interlocking element of the interlocking mechanism to be described. It will be observed that the rod G" lies opposite to the segmental flange D of the segment 1).

g indicates a spring the action of which is to push the valve-rod and valve in a direction to connect port E with the port E and port E with port H is a casting secured on the front of the valve-chamber E, having, as shown, a prolongation H, which extends over the rod end G. Another projection H (see Fig. 8) supports the fulcrum i of the latch i.

I is a pin journaled in the downwardly-extending arms of projection H, so as to lie below the rod G said pin having secured to it a latch I, which by the action of the spring I is normally pressed upward, so as to en gage with a detent G secured on the under side of the rod G.

I is a lever secured to the end of the pin I and extending outward in approximately the same direction as the detent I, so that its outer end lies beneath and in the path of the head J which is operated by the time-es capement device, as will be described.

i is a pin journaled on the bracket H having attached to it the latch t", which when the gate B is closed, as shown in Fig. 1, engages with the detent .D on the locking-segment D. p

1? is a lever also attached to the pin i and having a head 2' extending out from its end and intothe space lying within the segmental flange D of the segment 1), as is best shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

J and J are respectively the lower and upper sections of a diaphragm-chamber, J 2 indicating the diaphragm secured between the sections, and .I J clamping-plates secured to the center of the diaphragm and to which in turn is secured the rod J which passes through a stuffing-box in the lower section J and has secured to its lower end the head J J indicating a spring acting on the rod J and tending to draw it and the diaphragm downward. As shown, the diaphragm-box is supported on a tubular extension 11 secured to the casting II.

J is an opening in the upper section .l of the diaphragm-chamber, to which the air-admission-regulating device is connected, and J is an air-exhausting port at the top of the diaphragm-chamber.

The regulating device K consists of a casing having a perforation K and supporting a threaded rod K having a needle-like end K which regulates the opening of the perforation K, K indicating the handle with which the threaded end and needle are adjusted.

L is a valve held to a seat on the port J by the action of a spring L fitting in a cup shaped extension of the valve (indicated at L) and resting at top against a spider, such as is indicated at L.

M is a finger extending out into the section A of the tube and pivoted in the extension A of this section, being secured to a rotatable shaft M, (see Fig. 9,) having a spring M connected with it which acts to turn and hold the finger in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and U, M indicating an eccentric secured to the shaft M, and N indicating an eccentric-strap having secured to and projecting from it a rod N, having a finger N at its end and a slotted extension on its upper side,'as indicated at N 0 (best shown in Fig. 10) is a valve-casing having formed in it two chambers O and the chamber 0 being connected with a source of air under pressure by a pipe 0" and the two chambers being connected together by a port 0'. The chamber 0 connects through its end with the outer air through a cylindrical passage 0 and also connects freely with the pipe F.

P is a valve normally held against the port 0 by the action of a spring P'*. A valve-rod P extends from the valve through chamber 0 and through the casin g, so that its projecting end lies opposite to the fingerN when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 10. From the other face of the valve extends the cylindrical rod P the outer end of which rests in the cylindrical opening 0" and is provided with openings, as indicated at P,

which when the valve is seated open into the chamber 0 but which are closed when the valve leaves its seat by sliding within the cylindrical passage 0 Q is a cylinder, the upper end of which connects with the pipe F, as shown, Q indicating a piston workingin said cylinder and having a piston-rod Q which supports a pin Qiworking in the slot N Q indicates a spring acting to press the piston Q upward to the position shown in Fig. 10.

R indicates the pneumatic cylinder,the ends of whichare connected through ports 1" and 'r with the ports E and E of the cylinder R is formed the valve-seated port R, as shown in Fig. 4:, opening into the conduit R which in turn opens into the tube section A through the opening A S indicates a valve, which is held to the seat R by the action of a spring S S is an inwardly-extendin g spindle projecting from the inner face of the valve S into the end of the cylinder R in position to be engaged by the face of the piston and pushed inward, lifting the valve from its seat, as shown in Fig. 4.

S indicates an outwardly-extending spindle having in the construction shown no other function than to properly aline the valve.

T is the piston moving in the cylinder R and connecting through a rod T with the inner gate U of the sender-tube.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The gate U is normally closed and the gate B normally open. The operator inserts a carrier in the tube A and taking hold of the handle 0 turns the shaft C so as to close the gate B. In turning the shaft tothis position the segment D is turned with it, and the detent D is engaged by the latch 71, as shown in Fig.8. In turning the segment D to the position indicated its edge D clears the end of the rod G permitting the spring g (see Fig. 4) to move the rod G G and the valves G G so as to connect the port E with the supply-port E and the port E with the exhaust-port E thus admittingcompressed air to the front end of the cylinder R and permitting air to exhaust fromits rear end. The'admission of air to the port E also admits it through the port E and pipe e into the lower portion of the diaphragm chamber,

and theforward'movement of the rod Gt thrusts it across the front of the segment-face D in which it finally comes in contact with the head i of the lever-arm 2 through which it acts on the latch i, lifting it out of engage- In the inner head front endof the cylinder passes freely through the port R, the passage R and port A to the sender-tube A,which is thus charged with compressed air and the pressure on each side of the gate U- practically equalized. As the piston T moves under the influence of the compressed air admitted to the left-hand side of the cylinder R the spring S causes the valve S to move toward its seat R, and, as

shown, the valve will close the passage between the cylinder and ichamber R very slightly before the gate U has moved to such a distance as to begin the opening of the passage between the sender-tube and trans 'part of the diaphragm-chamber escaping freely through the port J as the valve L is only held to its seat by light spring-pressure.

As the carrier passes through the tube-section A its edge comes in contactwith the finger M and pushes it downward, rotating the shaft .M' of theeccentric M to the position indicated in Fig. 10, the spring Q acting against the piston Q and through the rod Q lifting the rod N to the position-indicated in Fig. 10, so that its finger N comes opposite to the valve-spindle P. As soon as the carrier has passed the finger M the spring M rotates the shaft MT back to its normal position and acting through the eccentric M throws the rod N'against the end of the spindle P, moving the spindle inward and lifting the valve P from its seat, so that air under pressure coming through the pipe and The air admitted to the dia-' chamber 0 passes through the port 0 into the chamber 0 and the openings P being closed the air passes then through the pipe F to the inner end ofv the cylinder F, where, acting against the piston G, it moves the said piston, the rod G, the valves G and G and the rod G to the position indicated in Fig. 4; but in this position the detent G on the rod G is engaged by the latch I, as best shown in Fig. 6, holding all the parts connected with this rod in retracted position. The withdrawal of the rod G from in front I of the face D of the segment D permits this segment, together with the shaft (J and gate B, to move under the influence of the spring 0 opening the gate B; but before this 0ccurs, which is only at the latter end of the a backward movement of the rod G the shifting of the valves has admitted air under pressure through the port 4" to the rear end of the cylinder R and connected the front end S from its seat, opening the passage from the sender-tube A through the port A passage R port R, cylinder R, port a", &c., to the exhaust, so that the compressed air in the said chamber A is permitted to escape and the pressure in said chamber reduced to atmospheric pressure. At the end of the outward stroke of the piston G the opening of the pipe F into the cylinder F is uncovered, permitting the compressed air to pass through the pipe F into the top of the cylinder Q, where, acting on the piston Q, said piston pushes the 7 rod N downward until said finger N passes below the end of the spindle P, permitting the valve P to close and the said spindle P to move over the top of the finger N in which position it remains until the finger M is again pressed downward.

The shifting of the valve Gr so as to connectthe port E with the exhaust permits the compressed air to exhaust freely through the lower section of the diaphragm-chamber, whereupon the action of the spring J is at once to draw the diaphragm and rod J 4 downward; but this downward motion of the diaphragm and rod is regulated and timed by the opening K, adjusted by the needle K by means of which any desired time period can be caused to elapse for the complete downward movement of the rod. At the end of the downward movement of the rod the head J comes in contact with the lever I pressing itdownward and through the spindle I pressing the latch I downward until it is disengaged-from the latch G, whereupon the rod Gt moves forward into contact with the segmental face D of the segment D, which holds it in position until the segment D is rotated consequent on the opening of the gate B, as already described.

1t will be obvious that the rod G is in the first place and for a determined period of time locked in its rearward posiiion by the action of the latch I so that if during this period a carrier is placed in thesectiou A and the gate B closed no effect will be produced on the gate U until the time escapement device has released the latch 1*, upon which occurrence the mechanism will operate, as hereinabove described. On the other hand, if the determined time period has elapsed before a carrier is charged into the section A the latch I will be already disengaged and the rod G and parts connected with it held in position only by the engagement of said rod with the segmental flange D.

My invention is capable of very numerous modifications in its merely mechanical features, those shown being the devices which I believe to be best adapted for the practi cal utilization of my inventive conception; but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the employment of the particular devices indicated in the drawings except where they are specifically referred to as limiting elements of the claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sending device fora pneumatic-tube system, a tube-section A in registry with the end of the despatch-tube in combination with an end gate and an inner gate for closing the tube-section, means for opening the inner gate arranged to be set in operation by the closing of the end. gate, an automatic lock arranged to prevent the opening of the inner gate when engaged, a time escapement arranged to disengage said look a determined time after the inner gate has closed after opening.

2. In a sending device for a pneumatic-tube system, a tube-section A in registry with the end of the despatch-tube in combination with an end gate and an inner gate for closing the tube-section, means for first admitting compressed air to the tube'section and then opening the inner gate arranged to be set in operation by the closing of the end gate, an automatic lock arranged to prevent the opening of the inner gate when engaged, a time escapement arranged to disengage said look a de termined time after the inner gate has closed after opening, and means for first closing the inner gate and then opening the end gale arranged to be set in operation by the exit of a carrier from the tube-section.

b. In a sending device for a pneumatietube system, a tube-section A in registry with the end of the despatch-tube in combination with an end gate and an inner gate for closing the tube-section, a pneumatic cylinder connected to open and close the inner gate, a valve governing the admission and exhaust of air from said cylinder, a spring acting to move and hold said valve in position to admit air to open i he gate, a pneumatic cylinder connected with the valve to move it in the opposite direction, a rod, as G, moving with the valve, a device, as shaft 0, for moving the end gate, a spring acting to open said gate, an interlocking device, as segment D, moving with the device for moving the end gate, said interlocking device being engaged by rod G" when the end gate is closed and the valve moved by its spring to open the inner gate and the end gate thereby prevented from opening and said rod Gr being engaged by the segment when the end gate is open and the valve moved to close the inner gate and the inner gate thereby prevented from opening, and a device, as finger M, arranged to be actuated by a carrier issuing from the tube-section A and operating to admit air to the cylinder connected with the valve to shift said valve and rod G to the position corresponding to the 010s (1 position of the inner gate.

4. In asending device for a pneumatic-tube system, a tube-section A in registry with the end of the despatch-tube in combination with an end gate and an inner gate for closing the tube-section, a pneumatic cylinder connected to open and close the inner gate, a valve governing the admission and exhaust of air from said cylinder, a spring acting to move and hold said valve in position to admit air to open the gate, a pneumatic cylinder connected with the valve to move it in theopposite direction, a rod, as G, moving with the valve, a device, as shaft C, for moving the end gate, a spring acting to open said gate, an interlocking device as segment D, moving with the vdevice for moving the end gate, said interlockin g device being engaged by rod G when the end gate is closed and the valve movedby its spring to open the inner gate and the end gate thereby prevented from opening and said rod Gr being engaged by the segment when the endgate' is open and the valve moved to close the inner gate-and the inner gate thereby prevented from opening, a supplemental automatic latch, as 1', operating to engage and hold the segment when the end gate is closed, means for releasing said latch actuated by the rod G after it has moved to position to engage and lock the segment, and a device, as finger M, arranged to be actuated by a carrier issuing from the tube-section A and operating to admit air to the cylinder connected with the valve to shift said valve and rod G to the position corresponding to the closed position of the inner gate.

5. In a sending device for a pneumatic-tube system, a tube-section A in registry with the end of the despatch-tube in combination with an end gate and an inner gate for closing the tube-section, a pneumatic cylinder connected to open and close the inner gate, a valve governing the admission and exhaust of air from said cylinder, a spring acting to move and hold said valve in position to admit air to open the gate, a pneumatic cylinder connected With the valve to move it in the opposite direction, a rod, as G moving with the valve, an automatic latch, as I, arranged to engage rod G when the valve is moved to position to close the inner gate, a device, as shaft 0, for moving the end gate, a spring acting to open said gate, an interlocking device, as segment D, moving with the device for moving the end gate, said interlocking device being engaged by rod G4 when the end gate is closed and the valve moved by its spring to open the inner gate and the end gate thereby prevented from opening and said rod Gr being engaged by the segment when the end gate is open and the valve moved to close the inner gate and the inner gate thereby prevented from opening, a pneumatic time escape set in operation by the shifting of the valve to open the inner gate and operating to engage latch I a determined time after said gate closes, and a device, as finger M, arranged to be actuated by a carrier issuing from the tube-section A and operating to admit air to the cylinder connected with the valve to shift said valve and rod G to the-position corresponding to the closed position of the inner gate.

6. In a sending device for apneumatic-tube tube-section, a pneumatic cylinder connected 1 to open and close the inner gate, a valve governing the admission and exhaust of air from said cylinder, a spring acting to move and hold said valve in position to admit air to open the gate, a pneumatic cylinder connected with the valve to move it in the opposite direction,

a rod, as G, movingwith the valve, an automatic latch, as 1, ar anged to engage rod G when the valve is moved to position to move the inner gate, a device as shaft 0, for moving the end gate, a spring acting to'open said gate, an interlocking device, as segment D, moving with the device for moving the end gate, said interlocking device being engaged by rod G? when the end gate is closed and the valve moved by its spring to open the inner gate and the end gate thereby prevented from opening and said rod G being engaged by the segment when the end gate is open and the valve moved to close the inner gate and the inner gate thereby prevented from opening, a pneumatic time escapement set in operation by the shifting of the'valve to open the inner gate and operating to engage latch I a determined time after said gate closes, a supplemental automatic latch, as 1', operating to engage and hold the segment when the end by a carrier issuing from the tube-section A v and operating to admit air to the cylinder connected with the valve to shift said valve and rod G to the position corresponding to the closed position of the inner gate.

7. In a sending device for pneumatic-tube systems comprising the tube-sectio n A having end and inner gates, the combination with the inner gate of a cylinder R having a port R connecting with the tube-section A, a valve S having a spindle S extending into the cylinder, said valve being held to its seat by a spring, and a pistonT working in the cylinder R and connected with the gate, said piston pressing against the spindle S and holding the valve S open when the gate is closed.

8. In a sending device for pneumatic-tube systems comprising the tube-section A having end and inner gates and a pneumatic cylinder for actuating the inner gate, the combination of the shaft 0 secured to and operating the end gate having a segment D secured to it with a valve-rod G moving with the valve governing the admission and exhaust of the cylinder aforesaid, said segment and rod being arrangedto interlock with each other, as described.

9. In a sending device for pneumatic-tube systems comprising the tube-section A-having the end gate having a segment D secured to it with a valve-rod G" moving with the valve governing the admission and exhaust of the cylinder aforesaid, said segment and rod being arranged to interlock with each other as described, an automatic look acting to engage the segment when the end gate is closed and a latch-opening device actuated by the rod Gr' when it moves to engage and lock the segment.

10. In a sending device for pnuematie-tube systems comprising the tube-section A having end and inner gates and a pneumatic cylinder for actuating the inner gate, the combination of the shaft 0 secured to and operating BIRNEY O. BATOl-IELLER.

Witnesses:

EDWD. C. REGN, .D. STEWART. 

